I’m not sure when I wrote this song. But it has always been a fave. I am so glad to finally get it on a record and properly recognized in my repertoires. As I have said before, this song was inspired by a specific guitar, a Kalamazoo arch top from the 1940s I’m guessing much like this one here.
A young man, Mark Allen who was working for me in the receiving dept at a local bookstore where I was a manager before becoming semi-famous told me about his grandfather’s guitar. The more he told me the more special it sounded. I asked him to bring it to me and let me give it some love. I took it home and restrung it, polished it up a bit, then played it for what must have been the first time in decades, idk. The first thing that came through my hands onto that fretboard was this little ditty that I called, “Kalamazoo.” I had this little thing around for a while before the song Drag emerged from my soul. The thought to merge these two pieces into one came to me one night, somewhere…it feels like it has always been that way. By the way, Mark has told me he wants to give that guitar to me. I’m not sure how I feel about it. I wanna go to his house right now and get it. But, also, I know sometimes selfless acts can become regrets. I’ve been very clear with him that he should think twice about it. He said he decided years ago but he just keeps forgetting about it. So, I guess I will have to go get that guitar from him. He and his wife just live up the street from me. So, I could go right now and fetch it. Maybe though I should make a little video about it. Would y’all like that? I believe the appropriate way to be gifted an instrument is to make it clear that I will never sell it, give it away or put it in a position to be harmed. And if he ever wants it back, it’s his no questions asked.
Drag Words & Music-Kevin Russell Heartless hum of cicada slums still feel the sun when the day is done My bones are wet they sweat when I squeeze My head in my hands praying for a breeze I swallow my pills by the window sill try to find words for the way I feel The telephone's got an ugly tone Savages and spiders they eat their own I'm like a dog that don't like to bark Just a muddy old crow can't find the ark My feet are muddy, I guess, I suppose I’ll put’em under the water hose Sometimes I lose all humility Sometimes I can't find what's in front of me Sometimes the song finds a hole in the bag Sometimes the summer, it's just a drag It rained last night, I watched it fall Heard the radio bleeding thru the walls I couldn't remember what Dichotomy meant Then something happened, something clicked I found my woman reading in her chair we made love out of despair Sometimes I lose all humility Sometimes I can't find what's in front of me Sometimes the song finds a hole in the bag Sometimes the summer, it's just a drag
Lyrically this is autobiographical 100%. It’s a slice of my life, 20 years ago? Late summer, worn down by months of sweaty shows, high electric bills and electrolyte deficits. This is lyrically solid, a beautiful piece of songwriting I am proud of, my fave verse is the middle verse because of the reference to the Noah’s Ark biblical flood story and the muddy footed crow. It was Robert Bly who spoke of that old story couched in a Jungian juxtaposition between the crow and the dove, the light and the dark, lost and found. In my bible studies the crow (or raven in some translations) never came back. But, Bly presented it as the dove first returns with nothing, then a 2nd time with an olive leaf, the third time the dove does not return, then he sends out the crow who returns with muddy feet. These are things I think about when I have muddy feet. What do you think about when you have muddy feet?
Mason Hankamer- Dog House Bass
Recorded and mixed by Mark Creaney
Video by Don Ray
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